German Navy – A German task force is being withdrawn from terrorism patrol in the Strait of Gibraltar because it has little to do.

• Agence France-Presse: Germany withdraws ships on anti-terror patrol off Gibraltar

US Marines – With the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit about the USS Peleliu, off of the Horn of Africa.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Strike group flexible, but in harm’s way

Royal Navy – A preview of the upcoming Defence White Paper, which will call for more expeditionary forces.

• BBC: UK military faces major overhaul
• Daily Telegraph: Britain needs more rapid strike forces, says defence chief

Royal Navy – HMS Glasgow is exercising off of Africa.

• Ghanaian Chronicle: British Gov’t Will Protect Ghana From Coups

Background – Iraq – An interesting look at the divide that exists between the units in the field and the rear echelon troops in Iraq. The article opines that the Coalition Provisional Authority is essentially useless???

• New York Times: A Million Miles From the Green Zone to the Front Lines

Background – Iraq – A closer look at the intelligence controversy in the UK regarding Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction.

• The New Yorker: The Scientist and the Prime Minister

French Navy – James F. Dunnigan reviews the operational problems of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

• StrategyPage: How NOT to Build an Aircraft Carrier

Background – Weapons of Mass Destruction – A previously unthought of form of WMD: a dirty radiological bomb mounted on top of a weather rocket that has a range of several miles. Where can you buy this? In the tiny sepratist enclave of Transdniester which broke off from Moldova.

• Washington Post: Dirty Bomb Warheads Disappear

Background – Missile Defense – A balanced look at the state of the US anti-ballistic missile system, and the Navy’s role in it.

• The Economist: An American dream

Background – Defense Spending – A fascinating review of the sordid truth about defense spending in America, that is brought to light by an interview with retired Pentagon crusader, Chuck Spinney. Spinney states that the increase in defense spending since 9/11 is doing nothing to address the threats the US faces from its new terrorist enemies.

• NOW With Bill Moyers: Transcript of Interview with Chuck Spinney

Background – History – The role the US Marines played on the Western Front in World War I.

• Leatherneck: France 1918, The Big War

Background – Fighting Sail – If you wish to have a feel of how naval warfare was conducted in the age of sail, I strongly recommend you see the current film adapation of Patrick O’Brian’s books on the big screen, entitled Master and Commander. This is the most realistic depiction of what life and combat was like on an 18th century warship that you will ever see. Here are some links to provide background on the film and the author???

• NPR: A 1995 interview with author Patrick O’Brian (requires RealAudio)
• The New Yorker: Ruling the Waves – a review of the movie.
• Daily Telegraph: Luck Jack Sails to Hollywood – Max Hastings on Patrick O’Brian’s legacy.

• 24 Hour Museum: Master and Commander / The Far Side of the World Museum Trail – A listing of naval museums in the UK where artifacts from Nelson’s Navy can be viewed

US Navy – A new set of naval ocean surveillance satellites is launched.

• Aviation Week: Sea recons readied –
  NRO to bolster space-based ocean surveillance to track suspicious ships

• Spaceflight Now: Atlas soars on secret mission under cover of darkness
• Spaceflight Now: Observers track secret satellites launched Tuesday

Background – Iraq – Michael Gordon surveys an expert on what went wrong with the post-war planning in Iraq.

• New York Times: Nation-Building in Iraq: Lessons From the Past

US Navy – A look at some of the jobs performed by submarines in the war against Iraq.

• Virginian Pilot: 3 sub commanders receive Bronze Stars

Royal Navy – Will there be a fleet review in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar?

• Daily Telegraph: MoD scuppers bicentenary of Trafalgar
• Daily Telegraph: Navy expects No 10 to do its duty

Canadian Navy – Canada’s Atlantic Fleet will be without its supply ship for 10 months while she is overhauled.

• Halifax Herald: Refit leaves navy
  in short supply

Canadian Navy – Canada intends to maintain surveillance of its coasts with a new land-based over the horizon radar system called the High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar Network.

• National Post: Radar stations to guard Canada by sea

Bruneian Navy – Singapore and Brunei are exercising – via computer.

• The Straits Times: S’pore, Brunei navies on high-tech exercise

Royal Australian Navy – the ANZAC frigates are to be upgraded with an anti-missile system.

• Ferret: Anzac frigates to be upgraded

Background – Iraq – More pessimistic analysis from William Lind and others on the progress of the guerilla war in Iraq. They believe the US will be unable to triumph in a 4th Generation War.

• Defense and the National Interest: The Politics of War
• Defense and the National Interest: War in Iraq: New developments & implications

Royal Navy – Will the UK and France share aircraft carriers?

• The Scotsman: MoD considers sharing new aircraft carriers
  

Military Sealift Command – Cargo ships chartered by the U.S. military to carry supplies and equipment to American forces worldwide are vulnerable to terrorist attacks while visiting ports.

• Virginian Pilot: Chartered cargo ships deemed vulnerable to terrorist attacks

Background – History – A history of the Springfield rifle used by the US Marines.

• Sea Power: A Springfield Centennial

Background – History – An overview of the history of US Naval aviation.

• Naval History: Flight from the Sea

Indian Navy – A question and answer sesssion with the Chief of the Indian Navy.

• The Statesman: Not at sea, definitely

US Marines – A look at the Marine’s upcoming Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

• Sea Power: EFV Brings Improved Range, Lethality to Marines

Taiwanese Navy – A look at the French “frigates to Taiwan” scandal.

• BBC: Book delves into frigate scandal

Background – Airpower – Powered flight was born exactly one hundred years ago. It changed everything, of course-but most of all, it changed how we wage war – an interview with historian Walter Boyne.

• American Heritage: Airpower’s Century

US Navy – The first Expeditionary Strike Group, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is pioneering new tactics that call for closer integration of Marine and Navy forces.

• Associated Press: Marine, Navy Joint Patrols Debut in Iraq

Background – China – The recent crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons has had at least one unexpected aspect: the crucial — and highly effective — intervention of Beijing. China’s steady diplomacy is a sign of how much things have changed in the country, which has long avoided most international affairs. Recently, China has begun to embrace regional and global institutions it once shunned and take on the responsibilities that come with great-power status. Just what the results of Beijing’s new sophistication will be remains to be seen; but Asia, and the world, will never be the same.

• Foreign Affairs: China’s New Diplomacy

Myanmarese Navy – Myanmar agressively defends its territorial waters.

• Associated Press: Myanmar navy fires on Thai trawlers

Nigerian Navy – Nigeria is exercising to defend its oil facilities.

• This Day: Navy Commences Anti-Terrorism Training Exercise

US Navy – How will the US increase its forces on Guam?

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

US Marines – Troubled by lack of progress on preventing friendly fire deaths, Marine commanders seek technology to end friendly-fire deaths

• Sea Power: Marines Focus on Portable ID Gear to Reduce Fratricide

Background – Third Infantry Division’s After Action Report – A nice summary of the 3rd ID’s lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Associated Press: Army Commanders Felt Iraq Ammo Was Short

Background – Central Command – General John Abizaid has driven big changes in the American military. Now, as he commands U.S. forces in the Middle East, his ideas are being put to the test.

• The Atlantic: Abizaid of Arabia

US Marines – More Marines will head to Iraq.

• San Diego Union Tribune: More Marines than originally planned heading to Iraq
• BBC: US to send extra marines to Iraq

US Marines – U.S. forces have disrupted several planned terrorist attacks against Western and other targets in the Horn of Africa and local authorities have killed or captured more than two dozen militants, according to the Marine general in command of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

• Associated Press: African General Says U.S. Has Helped

US Navy – The Navy has further detailed its plan to reorganize its helicopter communities to use the new MH-60 helicopters to full advantage.

• Sea Power: Navy Maps Out Transition Plan for New Helicopters

US Navy – The USS Cole deploys for the first time since it was attacked in Yemen.

• Virginian Pilot: Cole ready to deploy again

Background – Al Qaeda – James F. Dunnigan asks if it is inevitable that terrorist organizations ultimately evolve into mafia-like organizations more focused on profit than terror.

• StrategyPage: The Mullah’s Mafia

Royal Navy – The new aircraft carrier’s names have been chosen – Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales.

• The Sun: ‘Queen’ rules the waves

US Navy – The latest naval news from around the US fleet.

• Sea Power: Super Hornet Basing Divided on East Coast

Royal New Zealand Navy – HMNZS Canterbury will be repaired, after an onboard fire.

• Stuff: Crippled steam warship to be repaired

Background – Ocean Gliders – The latest on ocean gliders, a form of unmanned underwater vehicle.

• Associated Press: Gliders of the sea take flight

Background – Public Awareness of Naval Affairs – Most Britons are ignorant of the Royal Navy and what it does for the country, according to a recent poll. If only they all would just read NOSI???sigh???;-)

• The Western Mail: Many Britons ‘ignorant about the Royal Navy’

Background – Mission Creep – William Arkin on how mission creep is seeping through the Pentagon, as American armed forces are assuming major new domestic policing and surveillance roles.

• Los Angeles Times: Mission Creep Hits Home

US Navy – A surface action group departs for the Mediterranean Sea.

• Virginian Pilot: Destroyers leaving for Med duty next week

Background – Foreign Aid – Critics have long derided the U.S. government for stinginess in international giving. But such charges miss the point. Today, it is private funds that make the difference in poor countries, and here the United States leads the pack.

• Foreign Affairs: The Privatization of Foreign Aid: Reassessing National Largesse

US Marines – The first Marine to lead an Expeditionary Strike Group takes charge.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Marine colonel takes charge of Navy strike unit

Royal Navy – The UK’s First Sea Lord says a sea-borne terrorist strike against the UK is inevitable.

• Reuters: Maritime terror now prime concern

US Marines – The Marines continue to experience problems with close air support.

• Sea Power: Close Air Support: More Improvement Is Needed

US Navy – Aircraft from the USS Enterprise are providing close air support in Iraq.

• Virginian Pilot: Two jets from Enterprise strike suspected insurgent targets in Iraq

Background – War in Kosovo and General Wesley Clark – An interesting look at the War in Kosovo and its lessons, told through the lens of Wesley Clark’s presidential candidacy.

• The New Yorker: General Clark’s Battles

US Navy – HSV-2 Swift is exercising with the Ghanaian military.

• Accra Mail: US High-Speed Vessel in Tema

Indian Navy – India has finally signed a deal for the Russian aircraft carrier Gorshkov?

• Indian Express: Gorshkov: Government to Announce Deal Next Week

US Navy – The latest naval defense industry news.

• Sea Power: Shipbuilders Push for Stability In Ship Contracts, Labor Force

US Navy – More on the significance of the USS Vandegrift’s visit to Vietnam.

• BBC: Warship visit lifts US-Vietnam ties

US Marines – More on the Marine’s new deployment plans.

• Sea Power: One Certainty for Marine Corps: Constant Change

Background – War Planning – The US is substantially modifying its warplanning, based on its experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• Washington Post: Military Alters Plans For Possible Conflicts: Focus Is on Ending Wars More Quickly

Background – Saudi Arabia – James F. Dunnigan analyses the developing civil war in Saudi Arabia.

• StrategyPage: Al Qaeda Makes Terrorism Backfire

Background – Terrorism at Sea – A more indepth look at the potential for a terrorist act in the Straits of Malacca.

• The Straits Times: Terror at sea: The world’s lifelines are at risk

US Marines – An interview with the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

• Sea Power: Marine Corps Commandant Hagee: Projecting Power Faster, Better

Background – Lessons Learned on Occupation – U.S. troops on conquered territory, infrastructure in ruins, international squabbling over reconstruction: a window onto occupied Germany seven months after V-E Day, when progress was still unsteady and Europe’s future hung in the balance.

• Foreign Affairs: That Was Then: Allen W. Dulles on the Occupation of Germany